"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." - Margaret Mead

I so truly believe this.................

Am not sure if I have missed posts about the devastation caused by the storms and tornadoes in the US............... and feel so un-empowered to do absolutely anything about it, because am not a religious person to send prayers , haven't got any money and personally do not think that my thoughts will make the slightest difference to anyone that has been affected.

However just wanted to agree with Baragon that when we all try to do just that little to live as good people ( and goodness knows I need to try so, so, so much harder!!!), we make the world a happier place.

especially to all our NZ , Qld, Japanese and US friends who have been affected recently - and to all the fabby people who contributed to Adam's birthday Water gift.

"Those who danced were thought quite insane, by those who could not hear the music." ~ Angela Monet

" I never engage in a battle of wits with the unarmed, it's not fair to them, and no challenge for me." ~ Unknown

.From CuseGirl:"A miserable heart means a miserable life. A cheerful heart fills the day with song...."

"In order to be irreplaceable you must be different." ~ Coco Chanel

.From Judy:"Speech is the mirror of the soul: as a man speaks, so he is."

"Loving-kindness and compassion are the basis for wise, powerful, sometimes gentle, and sometimes fierce actions that can really make a difference -- in our own lives and those of others." ~ Sharon Salzberg

“You cannot make yourself feel something you do not feel, but you can make yourself do right in spite of your feelings.” ~ Pearl S. Buck

"Keep true, never be ashamed of doing right; decide on what you think is right and stick to it." ~ George Eliot

"One's life has value so long as one attributes value to the life of others,by means of love,friendship,indignation and compassion." ~ Simone De Beauvoir

"Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that." ~ Martin Luther King, Jr.

"We have just enough religion to make us hate, but not enough to make us love one another." ~ Jonathan Swift

.From Debbielynn:"Always remember others may hate youBut those who hate you don't winUnless you hate them and then you destroy yourself."~Richard Milhouse Nixon

.From Asiladam:"Love is a given, hatred is acquired." ~ Doug Horton

"The opposite of love is not hate; it's indifference." ~ Elie Wiesel

.From INCREDIBLEADAM:"Hatred and anger are powerless when met with kindness." ~ Malcolm X

.From WhisperNGlitter:"Only the weak are cruel. Gentleness can only be expected from the strong." ~ Leo Buscaglia

.From just a fan:"Hate is too great a burden to bear. It injures the hater more than it injures the hated." ~ Coretta Scott King"In time we hate that which we often fear." ~ William Shakespeare

.From Adamazing-Eyes:

"If I diminish you, I diminish myself."

"..those who seek to destroy and dehumanize are also victims - victims, usually, of a pervading ethos, be it a political ideology, an economic system, or a distorted religious conviction. Consequently, they are as much dehumanized as those on whom they trample."

"Ubuntu" ~ Reverened Desmond Tutu

"To the degree that I harm my brother, no matter what he is doing to me, to that extent I am harming myself."

"Hate has no place in the house of God. No one should be excluded from our love, our compassion or our concern because of race or gender, faith or ethnicity -- or because of their sexual orientation." ~ Archbishop Tutu

"We must meet the forces of hate with the power of love." ~ Dr. Martin Luther King

"You know that when you hate it is because you love someone to a point of passion that unhinges your soul." ~ paraphrased from Julie de Lespinasse

"Whenever you have a truth it must be delivered with love, or the message and the messenger will be rejected." ~ Mahatma Gandi

"Have the courage to say no.Have the courage to face the truth.Do the right thing because it is right.These are the magic keys to livingyour life with integrity.Stay true to your values.Speak up and act on what you know is right."

"If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but have not love, I am only a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal."

"Love will never come to an end." ~ from the Bible, 1Corinthians 13:1-8.

"No matter how much money, fame, and fortune you have, it doesn't mean sh** if it's not connected with love." ~ Adam Lambert

"It is better to keep your mouth shut and appear stupid than to open it and remove all doubt." ~ Mark Twain

"How many more gay people does God have to create before we ask ourselves whether or not God actually wants them around?" ~ MN Representative Steve Simon

"I always distrust people who know so much about what God wants them to do to their fellows."

"I distrust those people who know so well what God wants them to do, because I notice it always coincides with their own desires." ~ Susan B. Anthony

Do not pity the dead. Pity the living, pity those that live without love...(not an exact quote) ~ Prof. Dumbledore to Harry Potter

"You only see what your eyes want to seeHow can life be what you want it to be?YOU'RE FROZEN, WHEN YOUR HEART'S NOT OPEN.You're so consumed with how much you getYou waste your time with hate and regretYOU'RE BROKEN, WHEN YOUR HEART'S NOT OPEN."- lyrics from Madonna's "Frozen"

"Fear is the darkroom where negatives are developed." ~ wisdom from a fortune cookie (takeout from China Palace).